Automatic circuit-interrupter.



BEST AVAfLABLE COPE No. 702,318. Patehted lune i0, I902.

D. MCF. MOORE.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT INTERBUPTEB.

(Application mm Jan. 2, 1902. v (No Model.) 4 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

BEST AVAZLABLE com No. 702,318. Patented lune m, 1902.

0. INF. moons. I AUTOMATIC CIBCU" INTERBUPTER.

(Application filed Jan. 2. 1902.

(N0 Modem I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR I Ema-1e). 3f@%w1m91fm.

ATTORNEY BEEETAVAiLABLE 6GP:

Patented lune l0, I902,

ubrvozmjg 0. ms. nooks, AUTOIATIC CIRCUIT HITERBUPTER.

(Application bled L2, 1902.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Mndel Fig.4

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30.1118. mi imian 217mm. 4

S 5 W W ATTORNEY BE$T AVAlLABLE COP:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' DANIEL MCFARLAN MooEE, 0E NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

.AUTQMATIC ClRC'UlT-INTERRUPTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 702,318, dated June 10, 1902.

A Application tiled January Tolm/J whom it may concern- Be it known that I, DANIEL MCFARLAN MOORE, a citizenof the United States, and a .resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of NewJei-sey, have invented certair. new and useful- Improvements in Auto-- matic Circuit-Interrupters, of which the following is a specificatiou.

My invention relates to automatic circuitinterrupters designed to produce a rapid make and break of an electric circuit, and is especially useful for employment in connection with induction-coils, reactive coils. and other devices employed for X-raywork, wireless telegraphy, eleetrotherapeutics, electric-tn be lighting, or for other purposes.

The chief'objects of my invent-ion are to secure compactness, eheapness, and reliability and to obtain other ad vantages which will be'more apparent from the subjoineddescription and accompanying drawings.

' I have described'myinvention as employed on a circuit containing reactive or self-inductive coils the self-induction of which alfords a high tension of current at each interruption, which is conveyed to aworking circuit for application to any device or objectconnectcd therewith; and one of the features of my invention consists in the manner in which the 0 self-inductive or reactive coils are arranged with relation to said circuitand at the same time are employed as operating-coils for the circuit-interrupter. 7

Another feature of my invention consists in the composition of the contacts of the interrupter itself, one of which I make of suit- .able.hardened stecl andthe other of iridium or other highly-refractory metal, althouglnl liud that the best results are obtained from the use of iridium as the negative, while steel is employed for the positive electrode of the interrupter.

. I contained in a sealed receptacle of glass or Another feature of my invention relates to the construction of an automatic interrupter whose contacts or operating parts are terior thereto.

The object of this part of my invention is to avoid the use of special binding-posts, in-

2, 1902. Serial No. 88,008. We model.)

terior levers, glass bearings for the same, and tosecure otheradvantages which do away with the difficulties heretofore experienced in adjusting the various parts of the device to one another and to the operating-magnet when the interrupter is made with a vibratin g lever, as has heretofore been my practice.

My invention consists, further, of certain details of construction and combinations of parts, which will be more particularly hereinafter described, and then specifically set of the various parts of the apparatus. Fig.

4 is a side elevation with the lower portion of the apparatus shown "n vertical section on the line 13 ll, Fig. 2. Fig.5 is a rear elevation of a detail shown in Fig. 4 in front clevation.

1 indicates the base of the apparatus, which is preferably a casting of metal constructed in hollow form to form a protective inolosurc for parts of the apparatus which are supported therein, as shown, and are incloscd against tampering or accidental displace meut or damage by the plate 2, fastened to the bottom of the casting 1, as shown in Fig. 1.

3 is a protective cover of sheet metal socured to, the casting or base-plate l and affording protection for the parts above the base-plate.

The operating parts of the circuit-interrupter are contained in a sealed receptacle 4, which is preferably made of glass and is preferably exhausted of air to as. high a degree of rarcfaction as possible in order to secure an effective and sudden interruption of electrode 5.

. driven into the open end.

the wall of the receptacle around the base of the column 6 and is preferably cemented to the receptacle 4 to hold the parts against displacement and to assist in supporting the contact or elect-rode 5. The button 7 is the terminal, which is adapted when placed on a suitable support to register with a contact of said support, and thereby afford a connection to the ertcrior circuits from the contained The opposite or positive electrode 3 of the interrupter consists, preferably, of a piece of case-hardened steel inserted in the hollow end of a tubular piece of soft-iron 9, which works up and down in a tubular extension 10 of the receptacle 4, beiug guided therein during its movement upward and downward under the alternate action of an electromagnet, which raises it, and

of gravity, which causes it to fall and complete the circuit when the magnet is discharged through the interruption of its circuit produced by the lifting action upon the armature 9.

The armature 9 consists, preferably, of a piece of Norwaysteel drilled out to give lightness and having, as shown at 11, an opening, to allow the escape of any air imprisoned within it when the hardened-steel point is The steel point 8 may be case-hardened, preferably in cyanid of potassium.

\Vhen the receptacle-4 is exhausted through the sealing-off nipple 12, any air within the hollow armature is permitted to escape by the opening ll, so that there 'may be no danger of deterioration of the vacuum during operation from the presence of any concealed body of air. This combination of materials for the contacts of the interrupter -givcs excellent results in certainty of contact and freedom from burning or deterioration by the are, and also is of advantage in 'thatthero is less tendency todisturbance of the vacuum from the release of occluded gascsat the contacts t rough the speratio'n of the device on an electric. circuit.

Tin cor not or clectrmlc S is suitably connccted by wires with a contact-inittmi 113, ccmented up: n the exterior of the bulb and having a stem sealed in the wall of the bulb 4 and extended into-the vacuousspace for attachment of the loose conductors 14, the latter being of thin flexible wire, so as not to interfere with the free reciprocation of the contact 8 and armature fl.

The operating-magnet of the interrupter is supported over the bulb 4 upon a plate or frame 34, carried by and, if desired, forming one piecelwith a post 15, suitably fastened to the base 1.

' BEST AVAlLABLE COP:

17 orother suit-able material, resting by a shoulder or off-set on the edges of the open-- ing and formed with a socket or depression to receive the end of the tubular extension 10. Above said fiber or other socket andin line with the extension 10 and armature 9 is disposed the iron core for the coils 16. Said core is preferably made'of fine iron wires, as

indicated, and rests upon and is supported by the fiber socket 17, as indicated. The socket in the fiber piece 17 not only serves to retain and hold the tubular extension 10, but also permits the end of the armature 10 to be located in very close proximity to the core, for which purpose the dividing-wall between the bottom of the socket and the ends of the iron wires is made as thin as practicable.

By making, the socket of vulcanized fiber or similar comparativelysoft material I avoid the danger of scratching, the glass of the re ceptacle, which would be liable to happen if saidsocket were of iron or steel, and I thus avoid the liability of breakage which would exist from the mere scratching of the glass.

In making up the parts the ;pool, with the coils wound thereon, would be fastened in place to the plate 31,-after which the piece of liber 17, would be dropped in to place and then the iron wires making up the core would be inserted within the hollow spool and a suitable ccmenting material applied at 18 at the upper end of the spool to hold said core in place.

The receptacle 4- is held in the position shown, with the tubular extension 10 seated in the socket 17, by means 01: a spring-actuatcd plunger or follower 1!) beneath the bulb or receptacle. The plunger or follower 1*.) works in the hollow guiding boss or projection 20, formed on the frame or base-piece 1, and is actuated by the coil-spring 21, working between the base of the boss :30 and the shoulder upon the plunger 1.), as indicated.

The plunger 1!! is preferably of insulating material and carries a centrally-disposed conducting-rod 3;, which terminates at its upper end in the head havinga depression adaptr ed to receivethe button-electrode 7, asshown, and to thereby form electrical connection with the negative contact of the interrupter. This depression acts also as a socket to hold the receiver or receptacle 4: in position when it is pressed upward by the action of the spring 21, so as to force the tubular extension 10 into the socket l7.

Then the receiver 4: is inserted in the position shown between the sockets, its button BEES? AVAlLABLE CC??? or electrode 13, which is in connection with the positive electrode of the interrupter, registers withand makes contact upon terminal contact-spring 23; adapted to exert lateral -5 pressure toward the bulb.

The spring 23 is supported in anysuitable manneras, for instance, by being clamped to one end of a conducting-post 24 within the hollow porcelain insulator 25, whose general IO shape or configuration is oblong, as shown in Fig. 2. p

The insulator 25 is fastened by its oblong projections to the upper plate of the frame 1 and at its center is provided with the tubular r5 bushingor extension which passes upward through the plate and atfords protection and insulation for the spring Thelower end of the rod 22 is provided with suitable clamping devices for attachment of 20 a wire or conductor which leads from and is ill Fig. 3.

clamped in the post 26, similar to post 24 and similarly supported in another porcelain insulator 27, similar to 25 and fastened in an upright position within the hollowbase 1. The

- '25 post-2t is connected by a wire with the post 28,seated in another insulator-block fllnwhich, like the insulator-block 27, has its bushing seated in and projecting laterally through the wall of the base 1, as more clearly indicated The posts and 1:"; may be used as the terminalposts or electrodes of the apparatus. In one manner of connecting upthe same, as

. shown in Fig.3, they are the terminals for the working circuit uponwhich the high-tension currents produced by the interruptions of circuitare utilized.

Other appliances which it is preferred to use in connection with theparts alread y de- 40 scribed consist of a spark-arrester, fuse, and

simple form of snap-switch mounted upon a plate 31, of vulcanized fiber or other suitable insulating material, which issecured within the frame .1 in horizontal position by being supported upon properl ugs or projections and secured thereto by suitable screws. This .plate is shown in dotted lines in Fig. I} and in full lines in edge view in Fig. 4.

32 indicates the spring-clips for the fuse 3 5.

The clips are formed'ou the upper ends of 1 ;posts which pass through the plate 31, and

- are provided beneath the plate with suitable chtuiping-nuts, as shown. The fuse 3-3 is of any suitable form andvmay consist of piece of mica or other suitable insulating material bearing the fuse-wire, whose ends terminate in conducting-pieces supported on the mica plate and adapted to be received between the jaws of the 'clips 32.

The terminal wires of a circuit connected with any suitable source of'energy are indicated at 35. One of said wires connects with one of the clips 32, the remaining clip being connected by a suitable conductor with the actuating-magnet coilsof the apparatus.

The actuating-handle 36 of a spring-switch is shown projecting through an opening in the side of the base 1. Said switch consists of a blade-spring 37, fastened to a plate or post at one end and cm'rying at its outer or free enda rod of metal, to which the handle 36 is secu ed. The rod is rounded at its lower side, thereby adapting it to slip over the head of a pin 3!), of insulating material, fastened in the plate 31 eentrally'bctween the two contact screws or points 40. The switch-arm on being turned from one position to the other slips over the head of the pin 3.; andsnaps down into position between said head and the head of one or the other of the contacts 40. The snap action is given by the spring effect of the blade-spring 37 cooperating with the rounded surfaces of the pin 3.) and the switchbar mechanically engaged, as just described.

The post 38, to which the spring 37 is secured, bears an upright spring plate or sup- .port 41, as shown in Fig. 5, which plate may be perforated to receive the end of a piece of carbon 42, held between said plate and the spring end of another plate 43, from which projects a point ll, separated by a narrow air-gap from the post carrying one end of the fuse. 1

The carbon block -12 atl'ords a non-inductive resistance of high value across the 'terminals'of the apparatus, but permits the passage of auyhigh-tension current of sullicient strength to force its way across the air-gap just mentioned, thereby protecting the apparatus fromzd nage in case oi irregular action or the exposure of theapparatus to a current of abnormally high voltage.

When the apparatus is used for the purpose of producing rapid interruptions on a circuit of induction the discharge of which is to be applied directly'to a working circuit, it is preferred to connect up the apparatus in the manner shown in Fig. 3, wherein the circuits may be traced as follows: from the primary or current-supplying wire 35 marked with the sign follows: to and through the fuse and to and through one of the coils 16, to the post 25, thence to 24, to the contact-spring 2 through the contacts of the interrupter, to the contact on the plunger 1!), thence to the post 26, through the other coil 16 of the clectromagnet, and to the post 38,

to which the switch is pivoted, and then through said switch when in closed position to-the contact 40, and out to the negative pole of the circuit The posts iZSandi'G, respectively, may form the terminals of the circuit to which the currents of high tension derived from interruptions of the circuit of the coils 16 are applied.

It will be seen that the coils 1b are in the circuit of the stipplycurrent on opposite sides of the interrupter-tweak, respectively, and that also they will when suitably wound conspire or assist one another in actuating the interrupter. lly this means I not only secure the advantages obtained by having the self-inductive coils on opposite sides of the break, respectively, as set out in myPatout No. (304,684, of May 24, 1898, but I also secure a strong magnetic action upon the interrupter, thus insuring operation and\enabling me to dispense with the use of special mechanical devices forjarring or striking the receptacle containing said interrupterv which it has heretofore been desirable to employ for the purpose of insuring the continued operation of the same.

In my improved interrupter the parts are all secured against damage'and are well irisulated, while, moreover, they are of extreme simplicity and are cheaply and easily made. The device also affords a ready means whereby working parts maybe Substituted for those which become damaged or inoperative and makes it certain that the substituted interrupter will be in proper position with relation to the operating-magnet and to the circuit in which it is to be operated. I

- \Vhat 1 claim as my invention is- 1. In an automatic circuit-interrupter, an

actuating-magnet having two coils conspiring to actuate the armature of the interrupter and placed respectively on opposite sides of the break.

. In an automatic interrupter, the combi-' nation substantially as described with a double-wound magnet having its coil on opposite sides of the break, of interrupter-contacts contained in a sealed receptacle and having an armature guided in the walls of saidre ceptacle, as and for the purpose described.'

3. In an automatic circuit-interrupter, in-

- nation with a sealed all-glass-receptacle having a stem or column supporting ohe of the electrodes, and a glass tubular extension in line therewith, of an armature working in said tubular extension and carrying atits lower end an electrode or contact of the interrupter.

7. In an automatic interrupter, the combination substantially as described of afixed contact supported or carried by a wire sealed in the bulb or 'column'projecting inwardly,

BEST fisVAiLABLE COP:-

and an opposite electrode carried by an armatacle loosely connected with the armature- -contact.

8. In an automatic interrupter, the combination with the receptacle carrying an arms-- ture guided in the wall thereof and provided with one of the contacts, and an opposite wall of said receptacle, of a socket for said" proximity to the core of an electromagnet, while the other or opposite support cooperating therewith is a spring-pressed support carrying one of the contact-terminals of the apparatns.

9. In anrautomaticinterrupter, the combinatipn with the sealed receptacle carrying the armature guided in a tubular extension thereof, of. a socket adapted to receive said extension, a spring-pressed actuated plunger carrying a contact and a cooperating-laterally-pressing spring adapted to engagewith a contact secured in a wall of said rfeceptacl and joined by flexible conductors'with th movable contained contact of the device. F 10. The combination substantially as described of a base 1 carrying the post 15, an actuating-magnet mounted on said post, the plunger 19 mounted in the base 1, and a socket carried by the supporting-frame for for the purpose described.

11. The combination in an automatic interrupter of the base 1, an electromagnet supported over the same by a suitable standard secured to said base and an automatic interrupter consisting of a closed glass receptathe magnet, a socket for receiving the upper plunger supportedin the frame 1 and carrying a contact, as and for the purpose described.

12. The combination with an automatic interrupter having an all-glass receptacle containing the interrupter-contacts, of the snapswitch consisting of the blade-spring 37, provided with an actuating-stem rounded as destops and an intermediate pin, as and for the .purpose described.

- Signed at New York city, in'the county of 1 day of December, A. D. 1901. v

DANIEL MCFARLAN MOORE. X'Vitnesses:

l). L. LAWLER, 1i. (3. TOWNSEND.

cle containing an armature to be actuated by .100 1 end of the receptacle, and a spring-actuated scribed and cooperating with two contacttureguided iu the wall of said receptacle, of a contact-terminal in the side ofsaid recepcooperatingcontact rigidly supported'in the 57 receptacle one member of which is located in:

the magnet in line with-said plunger, as and New York and State of New York, this 38th 

